Santeria by JAVA: a Special 3 Day Event

"Madonna and Child", detail, found object assemblage





Exhibition & documentary film premier about the artist "Beauty in Everything" by Robert Horvath
Reception Feb. 11th, 6-9p


LOCAL ARTIST RECLAIMS TRASH ON NEW YORK STREETS FOR USE IN FINE ART EXHIBIT

Cuban-born artist, JAVA, creates body of work inspired by Santeria religion and his passion for recyclable material

New York, New York – January 25, 2011 - Franklin 54 Gallery + Projects presents: “Santeria”; a found object sculpture exhibit, showing from Saturday, February 12 to Sunday, February 13, 2011, 12-5PM, with an opening reception on Friday, February 11, 2011, 6-9PM in the West Chelsea Arts Building, while also premiering “Beauty in Everything”; a short documentary about the artist and his work, by Robert Horvath of DÉVA.

Russian-born filmmaker, Mr. Horvath, was inspired by JAVA’s show at Franklin 54 Gallery in March 2010. When the artist saw the documentary he was moved to create a new body of work reminiscent of the mystique and beauty of Santeria, a religion in Cuba that has influenced JAVA’s artistic expression since childhood.

The dynamic use of found objects in all the work and the artist’s love for garbage and recyclable materials, which trace back to his Castro post-revolutionary Cuba when money and supplies were scarce, if not unavailable, makes for a visually stunning show. In a statement by JAVA regarding his work, he says, “I know this beautiful blue planet where we live will one day be a dump…It’s up to us to save it by using our imagination.”

Using everything from crushed cans to abandoned wood, JAVA “places everything exactly where it should be”, states Joyce Pommer, gallery owner. His attitude of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is a wonderful one that he takes seriously in his dedication to the work.

JAVA is a self-taught artist, born and raised in Cuba, now living and working in New York. He has been featured in “Reclaimed”, a 2010 group show of artists who use recycled material, at the Southwest Minnesota State University Art Museum. His work was chosen for the 2009 National Payroll Week campaign and has been included in many exhibitions in Cuba, Italy, Miami and New York City.

January 22nd@ 4p:" Exploring the Process" continues

Join us on Saturday January 22nd @ 4p when James LoParo and Critic David Cohen continue the conversation about the artist's works in the exhibition.
David Cohen is the Publisher/Editor of artcritical magazine. He is British born, has lived in the US since 1999 and is an American citizen. David was the gallery director at the New York Studio School from 2001-2010 and art critic of the New York Sun from 2003-08, and he moderates the ongoing forum of critical discussions of contemporary art, The Review Panel, at the National Academy Museum.


Archaeo Form XVI
19x17x4"
Fresco/Drywall/Wood
2002







Archaeo Form XII
25x21x4"
Fresco/Drywall/Wood
2002

BEFORE and AFTER: Harmonic Cycles of Creation and Destruction

JAMES LOPARO, a solo exhibition



X-ild, fresco panels, 47x69x3"



December 14th, 2010 – January 29th, 2011

December 16th @ 6:30p: Exploring the Process with LoParo & critic Larry Qualls

Franklin 54 Gallery + Projects is pleased to present a solo exhibition of extraordinary fresco and archaeo forms by James LoParo. The large-scale fresco pieces are impressive, powerful and majestic. LoParo’s interesting process includes building up layer upon layer of marks, letters, writings, scribbling and color intuitively and spontaneous which progressively become more deliberate. This journey goes on for 7-8 layers as he manipulates the piece to the top. When he reaches that final level he covers the entire surface with white plaster and boldly faces a blank canvas all over again. This step takes a great deal of confidence in covering over the previous multiple layers of work. Now he starts destroying while still creating and works back into his surfaces with saw blades, machetes and other tools to “uncover” what he remembers is underneath and selectively wants to leave for the final image. It is a mind game and a physical act. The self-exploration strips away layer after layer until he is satisfied and the piece feels right visually.

These textural giants are compositionally satisfying and wonderful, colors are calm and serene of umbers, sienna’s, grays and green contrasted against the rich surface that has been peeled away and now reveals so much from beneath – remembered or not, we can see the marks and writings that were made much earlier; LoParo has been on an excavation and exploration rebuilding while tearing away.

The archaeo forms are part of the larger image now destroyed even further and the journey continues. Now the broken fragments are attached to a foundation made by the artist with consideration of the fragmented shape and they becomes an extension of the form. Life moves forward – and the cycle continues. The entire process reflects an uncovering of the self – stripping away layer upon layer of the human experience and the work supports this completely. This confident artist presents much for us to think about.

After achieving success in NYC and across the US in the 1990’s, James left for Italy and the European audience that accepted his work enthusiastically - he is widely collected there including many on site installations. He has recently returned to New York City to reintroduce his work here.

Triple Play Exhibition extended by appt. through Nov. 30th

The Triple Play: flatiron/gramercy from 3 angles exhibition featuring works by Sharon Florin, Susan Pyzow and Emily Trueblood has been extended through November 30th by appointment only. Please call us @ 917.821.0753 if you would like to see the show.

View all 42 works from the Triple Play exhibition online

Through November you can see all 42 works in the exhibition on our online gallery @ American Art Collector magazine. Here is the direct link you will need to copy and paste into your browser:
http://www.galleryshowsonline.com/show/franklinangles1110

Triple Play: Flatiron/Gramercy from 3 Angles

SHARON FLORIN
SUSAN PYZOW
EMILY TRUEBLOOD


Emily Trueblood, "City Towers", Linocut



Susan Pyzow, "Sheffel Hall Night", acrylic on canvas









Sharon Florin, "Flatiron Bird's Eye View", oil on canvas









TRIPLE PLAY: FLATIRON/GRAMERCY FROM 3 ANGLES

SHARON FLORIN
SUSAN PYZOW
EMILY TRUEBLOOD

October 19th – November 24th, 2010
Reception: October 21st, 6-8p
Special Event: November 6th @ 2p: an in gallery walking tour of the exhibition by NYC tour guide Alfred Pommer

Franklin 54 Gallery is pleased to present a collaborative exhibition project by 3 New York City artists: Sharon Florin, Susan Pyzow and Emily Trueblood of paintings and prints that depict two New York City landmark areas- the Gramercy and Flatiron districts.

Sharon Florin has been painting and capturing NYC architecture for many years and they are expertly executed with a realist’s eye yet full of personality. They are detailed, rich and inviting – she captures the heart and feeling of each piece of architecture bringing the intimacy of it to life. Sharon’s respect and love for the architecture and NYC come alive in her paintings so we as the viewer can step in and enjoy so many aspects of the city.

Susan Pyzow’s paintings are strong and a bit eerie though quiet and still - components that make them intriguing along with her use of lush color and heightened contrasts. She draws us as viewers into the “light in the window” that is a beacon. The pieces are real but painterly and we are welcomed into her suspense hoping she will let us inside and reveal the secret. Susan will also have prints in the exhibition along side her paintings.

Emily Trueblood’s linoleum cut prints are clean, sharp and architectural. The imagery in these pieces whether shadow, shapes or angles are simple and striking. Her limited palette accentuates these handsome pieces and repeated use of the window variations keeps the eye moving in and out, up and down. Masterfully composed, they invite us to a fresh interpretation of these NYC buildings.

Each artist has her own technique and vision yet together they portray the richness of these neighborhoods. All three are award winning artists with works in numerous private, corporate and museum collections. Printmakers Susan Pyzow and Emily Trueblood also exhibit with The Old Print Shop in Manhattan. Sharon Florin has exhibited with Franklin 54 since it began in 2004.

"EXPLORING THE PROCESS" with artist Elisa Pritzker and Guest Moderator Dominique Nahas

Join us on Saturday October 16th from 4-6p for an interesting conversation between Elisa Pritzker and Dominique Nahas, Independent Curator and Critic



Interior I, digital art on plexiglass